Actuating mechanism



IN VEN TOR.

CLYDE G. ISHAM zw/Maw? AGENT.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. G. ISHAM ACTUATING MECHANISM June l5, 1965 Filed June 29. 1962 CLYDE G. EHNDA.

BY WQ/M AGENT.

United States Patent O 3,133,874 ACTUATENG MECHANSM Clyde G. lsharn, South Bend, ind., assigner to The Bendix Corporation, South Bend, ind., .a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 296,324 4 laims. (El. 'M -liti) This invention relates to actuators and, in particular,

yto a condition responsive mechanical actuator responsive to one or more conditions and having an output position indicative of one or more of said conditions.

- In automated mechanisms such as punch presses, assembly mechanisms and the like, where automatic operation has proved highly advantageous, it is customary to provide n safety devices which sense and respond to certain condipilots, etc., which are located to sense a particular condition which indicates an operating malfunction. In many instances, a plurality of conditions must be monitored by such probes, pilots, etc., each of the latter being arranged to actuate a single associated switch. The addition of a plurality of such switches to the control system of the automated mechanism represents additional cost as well as adding to system complexity and, in structures where space is not readily available, creates design problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical actuator responsive to any one or more of a plurality of mechanical input motions and having a single ouput motion in response to said one or more input motions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and compact mechanical actuating mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a cross section view of a punch press embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view of the lower portion of the press of FIGURE l showing the various steps of ysequential operation including the final probe operation which involves applicants invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view partially cut away to expose applicants actuating mechanism taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing reciprocable rod or shaft members in switch actuating position.

Referring to FIGURE l, numeral l) represents an automatic punch press having a fixed bed portion l2 and a vertically movable ram portion 14 to which a die table 16 and punch holder iS, respectively, are I'ixedly secured by conventional fastening means, not shown. An index table 20 is rotated about an axis A, FIGURE 2, by conventional control apparatus, not shown, to thereby effect sequential punch operations as shown in FiGURE 2 which include the steps of automatic loading, extrusion, trim, idle, coin and knock out, and probe in the order named. Since automated punch presses of this general type are used extensively in industry and the structure and operation of the same well known to those skilled in the art, it is not believed necessary to show or describe the structure or operation of the automatic press it) be- CII ice

youd that required to show the operating relationship of applicants invention with the press 10. lt will be understood that the movable ram portion 14 is provided with the necessary punches, etc., which cooperate with the mating die carried by the index table 20 to effect the operation indicated at each of the six positions through which the die is indexed. The present invention is concerned with the probe operation immediately prior to the automatic loading operation and, in the following description, it will be assumed that the loading operation consists of supplying a circular metal slug to each of four die cavities 24 as each die 26 is moved into position in response to indexing of table 2t) for loading by the automatic loading apparatus. As shown in FIGURE 1, the metal slugs are reduced to a piston-like member 23 which is normally ejected from the die cavities 24 at the coin and knockout operation immediately prior to the probe operation.

It is essential that the die cavities 24 be clear of any obstructions such as members 2.8 when the metal slugs are introduced thereto by the loading operation. lf the cavities 24 are not clear, the press lil must be disabled temporarily to permit removal of the obstructions by hand before the sequence of punch operations is resumed. To this end, for each die cavity 24, applicant provides an associated probe 3i), 32, 34 or 36 slidably carried in spaced apart vertical bores 38, 4t), 42 and 44, respectively, in punch holder 18. The spacing of the four die cavities Z4 shown in FIGURE 2 and the spacing of probes 30, 32, 34 and 36 associated therewith shown in FIGURE 3 does not correspond by virtue of FIGURE 2 being of reduced scale. However, it will be understood that the probes 30, 32, 34 and 36 enter their associated die cavities 24 on the downward stroke of ram portion 14 to test for existence of the abovementioned obstructions. A bore 46 having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axes of bores 38 and 4t) extends through punch holder 18. A second bore 48 having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axes of bores 42 and 44 also extends through punch holder 18. A bore Sti having an enlarged diameter end portion 52 extends through punch holder i8 and is arranged with its axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axes of bores 46 and 43.

Shafts 54 and 56 slidably carried in bore 5t) are provided with beveled end portions S8 and titi, respectively. Shafts 62 and 64 slidably carried in bore 4e are each provided with a beveled end portion 66 similar to portion 53 against which the end portions 66 bear in line contact. Shafts 68 and 70 slidably carried in bore 48 are each provided with a beveled end portion '72 similar to portion 6b against which the end portions bear in liuc Contact. e shafts 62, 64, 68 and 7i) are each provided with a rounded end portion 74- which extends into an associated V-shaped annular recess 76 formed in probes 3d, 32, 34 and 36.

The shaft S4 is provided with a reduced diameter end portion '77 which terminates in a beveled wall portion '7S similar to the beveled end portion 6i).

A spring Si) interposed between an annular ilange S2 formed on shaft 56 and a plug 84 threadedly secured in enlarged diameter end portion 52 serve to bias the shaft 56 into engagement with shaft 54 and eifect engagement of beveled end portion 58 and titl with beveled end portions 66 and 72, respectively. The shafts 62, 64, 68 and 74), in turn, are biased toward their respective probes 3u, 32, 34 and 36 causing the rounded end portions 74 to engage annular recesses '76 thereby securing probes 3i), 32, 34 and 35 in position axially. The shaft 56 which extends through and is slidably engaged with plug 84 extends into engagement with a spring loaded switch 86. The switch S6 is provided with terminals 38 and 90 which are wired into the electrical network, not shown, which controls the its downward travel-and further'assuming that one of the n alsace/4 presenty invention may be made d y ,Y i

by those persons skilled i in thej appropriate art without departing from thespirit die cavities 2d is obstructed by a memberfZS as'indicated in FIGURE l, the probes VGti, 3?.,V` 3d and 36 will enterv their respective die cavities 24. The probe' 'associated with the obstructed die 'cavity 24, for instance probe 36, will Contact the member 28 which forces v the probe 36 upwardlvinY bore 44 thereby forcing the endV portion 74, out'of recess 76y and displacing 'shaft 70 towarldreduced diameter portion 77. The beveled end portion 66 of shaft 70 bears against beveled end portion Gticausing shaft 56 to move downwardlyrawayfrom shaft Sli against there the force of spring 80 tending to urge shaft-56and thus t beveled end portion 6d upwardly relative to beveled end portion 66. The shaft S6 engages shaft 54 thereby urging shaft 54 upward which, in turn, causes beveled end portion 53 to ride against beveledV end portions '66 of shaftsy 62 and 61E-thus maintaining'a preload on the latter shafts' which must he overcome before rounded end portions Z4 can slip out of the annular recesses 76 associated with probes 30 and 32..k inthe same'rnanner the preloadapplied by shaft 54 to shafts 68 and 7d through beveled end portions 6) and 66 must be'overcome beforethc` rounded end portions 7d can slip out of the annular re' cesses 76 associated Vwith probes 34 and 36. The preload applied inthe aboverne'ntioned manner to shafts '62, 64,68 and 79 is sucient to overcome any tendency of the probes 3d, 32, 3d andy 36 to move upwardly in Ytheir respective bores as the probesenter their respective die cavities 24 unlessran obstruction is present in one or more of the cavities 24 in which case the preload would be overcome in the abovernentioned manner. Y An obstruction in the die cavity Zd'associated with probe d2 would effect vmovement of Shaft d6 via shaft `68 in the manner heretofore mentioned with regard to shaft 74P to actuate switch 86 torits open position, Upon removal of the obstruction in cavity 24, the probe 42 would be reset'inV the aforementioned manner thereby returning the various shafts d, 56, 62, 64, 63 and 70 to the positions shown in FIGURE 3 whereupon* the punch pressl i0 is returned to normal operation.`

In the event that one or both of the probes and 32 react to an obstruction in this respective 'die Vcavities 24,

the shaft 54 would be urged downwardly, as viewed inv FIGURE 3, causing abuttingshaft' to `move yaccordinglyagainst theforce of spring titi to actuate microswitch 86 to its open position thereby disabling the punch t press le. In such a case, it will be understoodthat the axial length of reduced diameter portion 77 is sufiicient v t to permit'shaftd to move the required distance without interference between beveled wall portion '78 Vand the beveled end portions 66 of shafts 63 and '70. Y

While only four probes 3f), 32;., 3d and 36 are shown and described, it willy beY understood lthatV a greater or smaller number of such probes may be used depending g upon the numberr of 'conditions to be sensed. For in- Various otherY adaptations andrrnodifications Yof the;

, v15 sistance of spring S0 to the position shown `in FIGURE 4 v I A' second and of the present invention.

I claim: i i 1. lA mechanical actuating mechanismresponsive to one or more of av plurality of mechanical input motions and having a mechanical output motion comprising:

' a .casing having a first bore formed therein,

a first shaft slidably ycarriedfin said first bore and providedwith a first beveled end portion,

a second bore in said casing and extending Ytransversely Vtvo and intersectingsaid first bore, second and third shafts slidably'carriedin said second bore on opposite sides of said first bore and provided with second and third beveled end portions, respectively, whichrmate with said Vfirst beveled end portion, third and fourth bores in V,said casingextending sub stantially perpendicular to saidsec'ond bore, first and second condition responsive means slidably :carried in "said third and fourth bores,irespectively, and movable in response to associated conditions sensed thereby, ,Y f f a recessforrnedV in each of said first and second condiy tion responsive means ,-for'receiving a curvedV end portion fof said second and thirdf'shafts, respectively,

resilient means roperatively connected to said first shaft for imposing a preload thereagainst to thereby maintain vsaid/first beveled end portion in contact with said second arid third beveledend portions andV establish a preload againstl said second and third shafts-'which vforces said curved end portions thereof into said recesses provided therefor; j

said first and-second condition rreS'pOIlsive means being i operative independently of one anotherin response to.

Y' the conditions sensed thereby-andmovable in said third an'dfourth bores to force said curved end'portions out of said recesses causing said second and third beveled'end portions to Vride againstv said first beveled end portion thereby actuating said first shaft Y i against the resistance of said resilient-means to apredetermined output position indicating the occurrence 2. A mechanical actuating mechanism responsiveto one ormore of a plurality of mechanical input motions and having a mechanical output motion comprising:

" a casing havingra rst bore formed therein,

a first shaft slidably carried in said first bore and pro videdwith a iirst'beveled end portion,

' a second shaft'having aV second beveled end portion and a reduced diameter end portion abutting said first beveled end portion, n t

'said second shaft being slidably carried-'in said first 'bore,

third bores in said casingl extending transversely to and intersecting said first bore, third and fourth shafts slidably carried in said second and third bores, respectively, and provided with third and fourthV beveled end portions, respectively, said third beveled end portion engaging said first beveled end portion and said fourth beveled end portion engaging said YSecond beveled endportion, thirdl and fourth boresinv said casing extending substantially perpendicular to and intersecting'said second and third bores, respectively, i first andrsecond condition responsive probe members slidably mounted in saidrthirdY andrfourth bores, respectively, and p rovidedwith recesses for receiving a curved `end portion ofv said third and fourth shafts, respectively, y v resilient means: operatively connected to said first shaftt for biasing thel same into engagement with said second shaft and urging said first and second beveled l end portions, respectively, against said' third `and s fourth beveled end portions, i

said rst and second condition responsive probes being held in position by said curved end portions engaging said recesses in response to the force derived from said resilient means acting through said beveled end portions and associated iirst and second shafts,

said iirst and second condition responsive probes being operative independently of one another in response to the condition sensed by each and actuated in their respective third and fourth bores to thereby force the curved end portion of their respective third and fourth shafts out of the associated recess causing said third and fourth beveled end portions to ride against the associated rst and second beveled end portions,

said irst shaft being actuated against the resistance of said resilient means to a predetermined output position indicating the response of said first condition responsive probe,

said second shaft and said abutting lirst shaft being actuated against the resistance of said resilient means to a predetermined output position indicating the response of said second condition responsive probe.

3. A mechanical actuating mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reduced diameter end portion provides for relative movement between said second shaft and said third beveled end portion.

4. A mechanical actuating mechanism responsive to one or more of a plurality of mechanical input motions and having a mechanical output motion comprising:

a casing having a first bore formed therein,

irst means slidably carried in said first bore and provided With a iirst beveled end portion,

second means slidably carried in said first bore and provided With a second beveled portion and a reduced diameter end portion abutting said rst beveled end portion,

a second bore formed in said casing,

third means slidably carried in said second bore and provided with a third beveled portion slidably engaged with said first beveled portion,

a third bore formed in said casing,

fourth means slidably carried in said third bore and provided with a fourth beveled portion slidably engaged With said second beveled portion,

resilient means operatively connected to said lirst means for imposing a load thereagainst in a direction to maintain said iirst beveled portion and said reduced diameter portion in abutting relationship thereby urging said second beveled portion into engagement with said fourth beveled portion and said first beveled portion into engagement with said second beveled portion,

input motion producing means operatively connected to each of said second and fourth means for actuating either of the same independnetly of the other,

said third means being operative through its associated third beveled portion and the iirst beveled portion of said rst means to urge said first means out of contact with said second means thereby producing a predetermined output motion of said iirst means,

said fourth means being operative through its associated fourth beveled portion and the second beveled portion of said second means to urge said second means and said iirst means against the resistance of said resilient means thereby producing a predetermined output motion of said rst means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MECHANICAL ACTUATING MECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO ONE OR MORE OF A PLURALITY OF MECHANICAL INPUT MOTIONS AND HAVING A MECHANICAL OUTPUT MOTION COMPRISING: A CASING HAVING A FIRST BORE FORMED THEREIN, A FIRST SHAFT SLIDABLY CARRIED IN SAID FIRST BORE AND PROVIDED WITH A FIRST BEVELED END PORTIONS, A SECOND BORE IN SAID CASING AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO AND INTERSECTING SAID FIRST BORE, SECOND AND THIRD SHAFTS SLIDABLY CARRIED IN SAID SECOND BORE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FIRST BORE AND PROVIDED WITH SECOND AND THIRD BEVELED END PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, WHICH MATE WITH SAID FIRST BEVELED END PORTION, THIRD AND FOURTH BORES IN SAID CASING EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SECOND BORE, FIRST AND SECOND CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS SLIDABLY CARRIED IN SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BORES, RESPECTIVELY, AND MOVABLE IN RESPONSE TO ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS SENSED THEREBY, A RECESS FORMED IN EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR RECEIVING A CURVED END PORTION OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD SHAFTS, RESPECTIVELY, RESILIENT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SHAFT FOR IMPOSING A PRELOAD THEREAGAINST TO THEREBY MAINTAIN SAID FIRST BEVELED END PORTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND AND THIRD BEVELED END PORTIONS AND EXTABLISH A PRELOAD AGAINST SAID SECOND AND THIRD SHAFTS WHICH FORCES SAID CURVED END PORTIONS THEREOF INTO SAID RECESSES PROVIDED THEREFOR, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDITION REPONSIVE MEANS BEING OPERATIVE INDEPENDENTLY OF ONE ANOTHER IN RESPONSE TO THE CONDITIONS SENSED THEREBY AND MOVABLE IN SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BORES TO FORCE SAID CURVED END PORTIONS OUT OF SAID RECESSES CAUSING SAID SECOND AND THIRD BEVELED END PORTIONS TO RIDE AGAINST SAID FIRST BEVELED END PORTION THEREBY ACTUATING SAID FIRST SHAFT AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS TO A PREDETERMINED OUTPUT POSITION INDICATING THE OCCURENCE OF SAID CONDITIONS. 